Kégresse track

A Kégresse track is a kind of rubber or canvas continuous track which uses a flexible belt rather than interlocking metal segments. It can be fitted to a conventional car or truck to turn it into a half-track, suitable for use over rough or soft ground. Conventional front wheels and steering are used, although skis may also be fitted. A snowmobile is a smaller ski-only type.

The Kégresse propulsion and suspension system incorporates an articulated bogie, fitted to the rear of the vehicle with a large drive wheel at one end, a large unpowered idler wheel at the other and several small guide wheels in between, over which run a reinforced flexible belt. The belt is fitted with metal or rubber treads to grip the ground. It differs from conventional track systems by using a flexible belt rather than interlocking metal segments.

The name comes from the system's inventor Adolphe Kégresse, who designed the original while working for Tsar Nicholas II of Russia between 1906 and 1916. He applied it to several cars in the Royal garage including Rolls-Royce cars and Packard trucks. The Russian army also fitted the system to a number of their Austin Armoured Cars.

Patent drawing of Kegresse half-track CH65643 (1913)

Russian imperial state limousine (a 1916 Packard Twin-6 touring car) equipped with Kegresse track (1917)

An Austin-Putilov Armoured Car of the Red Army which was damaged during the Polish–Soviet War. In the area of Zhytomyr, 21 March 1920.

Lenin's Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost with Kegresse track, converted by the Putilov plant, at Gorki Leninskiye

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